Electrical device



T. w. VARLEY 2,124,642

ELECTRICAL DEVICE July 26, 1938.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June '7, 1933 INVENTOR ,ev w\4 44 V E M WTTORNEY" Jul 26, 1938. T w V R Y 2,124,642

ELECTRICAL DEVICE Filed. June 7, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 26, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to electricity, especially to a translating device for translating electrical energy into mechanical motion, and has particular reference to What is herein termed a reflex translating device.

An object of the invention is the production of a system, including an arrangement of the character specified, capable of the precise conditioning of members, indicative of time, situu ated at one place, to agree with an arrangement representative of an ordinary clock indication of time at another place.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention progresses and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail and the particular physical embodiments selected to illus- 20 trate the invention reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, and the several views thereon, in which like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic or diagrammatic view of a time sending station embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic or diagrammatic view of a series of time receiving stations embodying my invention.

30 Applicants invention, in its most fundamental aspect consists in the construction of an electrically operable device which might well be called a translating device, as it may be used to translate electrical energy into mechanical mo- 35 tion. It may be called a relay device, or relay motor.

The translating device of applicants invention comprises essentially a fixed field and a movable armature. The armature has two windings 1, thereon, one may be termed the operating winding, because when current flows therethrough under proper conditions the armature makes a movement, the other, might well be called the locking winding, because current flowing there- .;.5 through tends to prevent the operating winding from moving the armature. An operation of the armature is secured, however, by increasing or decreasing the potential difference across the terminals of the locking winding. The change in the value of the difference of potential across the terminals of the locking winding is secured by changing the tuning of circuits in shunt tothe terminals. When these circuits are in resonance with the current applied to the terminals 55 of the locking winding the impedance of the shunt circuits rises and the difference of potential applied to the terminals of the locking winding increases and vice versa. Applicant arranges to change the tuning of the shunt circuits by means operated by the operating Winding itself 5 so that the whole translating device may be so arranged, that being connected to a pair of conductors transmitting varying frequencies, the translating device will operate, and by changing the tuning of the shunt circuit place the whole 10 device in such condition that a given frequency will not cause the operating winding to move the armature with a given frequency applied to the conductors, that is, if the device is connected to a pair of conductors transmitting a varying frequency current, the operating coil will be continually intermittently energized, and if the shunt circuits are in a certain tuned condition the locking coil will allow the armature to move, but if the shunt circuits are tuned to that particular frequency which is at that instant applied to the conductors then the locking coil will predominate and prevent the operating winding from causing the armature to move.

It is understood that variations of line volts do not affect the motor device, due to its being of the differential type.

The fundamental translating device of applicants invention is applicable to many situations where it is desired to operate a given device in a precise and predetermined manner from a remote point, as it is merely necessary to determine that particular frequency which is to be indicative of the position of the device at the remote point, and then to intermittently send that frequency 3.: to the remote point to the translating device of applicants invention, whereupon applicant's translating device will operate by reason of the motion of its operating winding until such time as the shunt circuits have been tuned to reso- 40 nance at the particular frequency selected, whereupon the translating device will cease movement, and if the device which it is desired to position is mechanically connected properly with the means for tuning then the device will be correctly positioned.

Applicants preferred utilization of his fundamental translating device is in connection with a time system in which the time of day is transmitted from a central place or station to one or a plurality of remote places. In such a system applicants translating device properly combined is usable to cause hands corresponding to the hands of an ordinary clock to be positioned so as to correctly and precisely correspond with the position of hands or other mechanical device indicative of time at the central station or central place.

The particular embodiment illustrated in the drawings is that of a time system, that is, a system by which the positioning of members at a central station is utilized to indicate time at one or a plurality of outlying or time receiving stations.

C designates a device which includes parts for indicating time, in this case the minute hand I and the hour hand 2. C may be any of the usual or well known time keepers, or clocks, as ordi narily used. In practice, applicant has used one of the newer type synchronous motor clocks.

Revolving synchronously with the minute hand I, is the shaft 3. The shaft 3 through the pinion 4, and gear 6, drives the shaft I. The shaft I has mounted thereon a ratchet wheel 8. This ratchet wheel has, in the form shown, four oper ative projections or teeth, as 9, II], II and I2.

As the ratchet wheel 8 turns, a'projection, as II, contacts with and moves the pawl I3. Pawl I3 is pivoted at 45 to an arm 46 fixedly attached to shaft 41, and is spring pressed by spring I20. Shaft AI carries the movable coil I6 of the vari-' ometer V fixedly attached thereto. When shaft 4! is rotated, the coil It moves and the spring I 4 is tensioned. When ratchet wheel 8 has sufficiently moved shaft 4! so that the end of pawl I3 contacts with the trip member 48, the pawl is raised from engagement with the projection II ofratchet wheel 8 and is immediately thrown, by the spring I4, into engagement with projection I2 of ratchet wheel 8, and movable coil I6 returns to its initial position.

The electrical oscillation generator S has a plate II connected by wires I8 and I9 to brush 2!] bearing upon the rotary insulating disc 2I which has the metallic rim22 connected by the Wire 23 to the segment 24 having brush'25 bearing thereon. The brush 25 is connected by wires 26 and 27 to the winding of the fixed coil I of the variometer V, the other end of this coil is connected by wire 28 to one end of the movable coil I 6,'the other end of which is connected by wires 29 and 30 to battery 53. The other side of battery 53 is connected by wires II I, H8 and 34 through resistance 35 and condenser 36, and wires 31 and 38 to wire 39, and through wire 40 to filament 40'.

The variation of position of the movable coil I6 of the variometer V with relation to the fixed coil I5 Varies the frequency of the oscillations I causes the ratchet wheel 8 to rotate, and so move pawl I3 more and more from its initial position, as shown in the figure, and so causes arm 46 and shaft 41 to rotate more and more so as to cause movable coil I6 to change its angle with relation to fixed coil I5.

The result of this movement is to cause a gradual change in the frequency transmitted to the lines II and 42 as the minute hand'l rotates. Applicant has provided that one rotation of the hand I will cause a 90 degree rotation of the Wheel 8, that is, the projection I I will force pawl I3 farther and farther away from its initial position as shown in the figure, until the next succeeding projection I2 is in the position now occupied by projection II whereupon pawl I3 will be tripped by trip member 48 and, due to spring I4, will return to contact projection I2. The extent of movement of ratchet wheel 8, arm I3, and movable coil I6 in relation to the movement of hand I can be as desired, but in actual practice applicant has found a four projection ratchet wheel, such as 8 to give satisfactory results where the 90 degree angle between projections is made 1 to correspond with one complete revolution of 360 degrees of a minute hand, as I. A ratchet wheel, as 3, with only one projection therein will be advantageous, where extreme accuracy is desired, in that there would be no error arising from slight diiferenoes of angles between projections, and for this reason applicant contemplates using such a single projection ratchet wheel whereby a single projection will govern the entire movement of the movable coil I6.

The impulse device B is driven from shaft 3 by a suitable train of gears indicated as a whole by 43 and ending with the shaft 44 which drives the disc 2 I. The speed ratio between shaft 3 and shaft 44 may be as desired. Applicant prefers to use a speed ratio of l to 3600 so that an impulse is transmitted once each second.

The impulses generated by the. oscillator S cause a drop across potentiometer 50 which affects the grid 5I of the amplifier A. The plate 52 of the amplifier A is connected in circuit with the battery 53 and the primary 54 of a transformer having a secondary 55 connectedto the wires 4| and 42.

The wires II and 42 may be extended any distance from what might be called the central station, illustrated by Fig. 1. At points along these wires connections may be made to operate clocks. The points of connection of secondary clocks in Fig. 2 have been designated by I, II, III. The construction and arrangements have been shown in detail in connection with secondary clock station I.

At each station a reflex motor is positioned. This motor is designated by R. The motor includes, preferably, permanent magnet 55 having gaps 5'! and 58. Two coils are positioned within the permanent magnet field: one, 59, a looking or restraining coil; the other, 60 an operating or responsive coil, only partly in the field. With no current fiowing coil 60 is held against the stop I4 by the biasing spring I21.

The operating coil 60 is constantly intermittently energized from the line wires 4| and 42 by a circuit as follows: line wire 42, wire BI, condenser 62, reactance 63, wires 64, 65, and B6,

rectifier 61, wire 68, coil 60, wire 69, rectifier III, wires II, I2, and I3, to the other line wire 4I. Current fiowing in the above traced path energizes the operating coil 68 so that it tends to move away from the stop I4, that is, in the direction of the arrow I5.

The devices I52, 63, and I6 are merely common and well known devices for acting as an electrical filter to freely allow only the desired band of frequencies to enter the station from the line wires M and 42.

The rectifiers 61 and III together with rectifiers I1 and I8 insure the flow of current in one direction only to the coil 60. As applicants central station oscillator S, modified in its action by the variometer V, and the impulse device B, sends to the lines 4| and 42 impulses of alternating current of varying frequency, the coil 60 will be influenced by what, in effect, are impulses of direct current, perhaps more accurately, an intermittent pulsating current.

The operating coil 59 has a constant tendency to turn the shaft Iii, but this tendency is resisted by the locking or restraining coil 59. The restraining coil 59 is in a circuit, really in parallel to the circuit of the operating coil inside of the filters, in which current flows as follows: line wire 42, wire 65, condenser 52, reactance 53, wires 69, E5, 89, 85 and 82, rectifier 83, wire 84, coil 59, wire 85, rectifier 86, wires 87, 88, feeding condenser 89 and wires 99, I2 and T3 to line wire 4!. Current flowing in the above traced path energizes locking coil 59 so as to cause it to have a tendency to prevent movement of coil 99, and if sufficient current does flow in the coil 59, it does actually prevent the oscillation of coil 60. At times a sufficient current does flow through coil 59 to prevent operation of coil 99, and at other times a sufficient current does not flow. The determining feature is the condition of circuits including a variometer VV and condenser [2| in parallel with the locking coil 59.

The circuit including variometer VV may be considered as starting at the juncture of wires 8| and 82 and being completed by wire SI to movable coil 92 of variometer VV thence by connecting wire 93 to the fixed coil 94 of variometer W and then by wire 95 to the juncture of wires 8'! and 39. If the fixed and movable coils 92 and 94 of the variometer W are in a proper relation one to the other, the circuits, one including condenser till, the other variometer VV, from the juncture of wires SI and 82 to the juncture of Bl and 88, are tuned to resonance for a particular frequency of alternating current generated by the oscillator S and supplied to the lines 4| and 42. If these circuits are tuned to resonance for the particular frequency, that is being sent out the circuits will be of relatively high impedance so that a relatively greater quantity of current will flow through the locking coil 59 and so will prevent the operation of coil 99, but if the shunt circuits are not tuned substantially to resonance for the particular frequency being delivered to lines 4i and then the impedance of the shunt circuits will be relatively less, and so relatively less current will flow to coil 59, so that it is unable to prevent the movement of operating or responsive coil 59. I

As operating coil 69 moves, it operates, through arm 522, the pawl 96 to move ratchet wheel 91 in the direction of the arrow 98. Ratchet wheel 91' is mounted to rotate about the shaft I9, and to carry with it the pinion 99 meshing with a gear train I 99 connected to minute hand WI and hour hand I92 and thence through gearing I93 to shaft I9 3 bearing the pinion I95 meshing with gear I96. The gear wheel I95 rotates in the direction of the arrow I07 carrying with it the ratchet Wheel I98 having the projections I09, HG, iii and ii The projections contact with and actuate the pawl H3 pivoted at H4 on arm H5, which pawl is reset by trip member I25. The arm M is connected to the shaft IIB which is in turn connected to movable coil 92 of the variometer VV, which is movable against biasing spring I25.

When the operating coil 99 is operated, it not only moves the minute and the hour hands Illl and I92, but also moves movable coil 92 of the,

variometer VV. it continues to move these parts until the movable coil 92 gets into such position that the circuits, one including the variometer VV, the other the condenser I2l, are in resonance with the particular frequency of the impulses at that second being transmitted. As soon as the resonance condition is established, however, the impedance of the shunt circuits becomes so high that relatively more current flows through the locking coil 59 so that it is powerful enough to prevent further movement of the operating coil 59.

As time flows on, and the master clock C at the central station moves the variometer V, the frequency transmitted to the lines M and 42 changes, so the condition of resonance of the shunt circuits is departed from, so that the operating coil 69 is able to move and shift the variometer VV so that the shunt circuit is again put in the condition of resonance with the particular frequency being transmitted, and at the same time move the hands 59! and H32 of the secondary clock.

In actual practice applicant has generated a frequency of approximately 14 kilocycles to 15 kilocycles at the central station as the band of frequencies corresponding with the 360 degree movement of the minute hand. The hour hand being geared thereto and moving as usual. In case impulses are transmitted for hours, minutes, and seconds, each band would be about one kilocycle wide and be separated from the other bands by a fairly small fraction of a kilocycle.

In applicants system, the master clock and its variometer and associated parts are arranged so that pawl I3 jumps from one projection to the next so resetting the variometer V just prior to the resetting of pawl I I3 and variometer VV.

If the wires 4| and 42 break or become disconnected so that no energy flows to the secondary clocks, they, of course, will get behind the master clock, but upon re-establishing connection they will start and not stop until they have reached a position corresponding to the master clock. As actually arranged, an impulse is sent each second, which moves the minute hand through a distance corresponding to 15 seconds, and the variometer VV through a corresponding interval. No further movement of the minute hand takes place until the master clock minute hand catches up with and passes in time the minute hand of the secondary clock, by about fifteen seconds, then the minute hand of the secondary clock again moves. Impulses are being sent out each second, but no motion of the operation coil takes place except as stated. If the wires are connected after a break, however, the impulses. one a second, move the hands along, 15 seconds for each impluse, so that the hands catch up at the rate of one minute in four seconds, or one hour in four minutes.

It is understood that the embodiment applicant illustrates, does not provide for the proper position of the hour hand except as it is moved by the minute hand. This is the simplest embodiment of applicants invention. In this form the hour hand must either be right or placed right manually whereupon it will remain right until the electrical energy ceases. When the energy returns the clock will be right if the interval does not exceed about one hour, If the interval is greater the hour hand must be set by hand.

Although applicant has illustrated and described one particular physical embodiment of his invention, and explained the principle thereof, and the construction and operation thereof,

nevertheless, he desires to have it understood that the particular form selected is merely illustrative but does not exhaust the possible physical embodiment of means underlying the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. An electrical system which comprises means to transmit predetermined frequencies, a master clock mechanism in the transmitter, and tuning means in the transmitter to transmit frequencies which vary in accordance with the time position of the master clock, a receiver including a circuit to be tuned and a time indicating element associated therewith, means in the receiver circuit and responsive to the applied frequencies to move the time indicating element therein when the receiver circuit is out of tune with the applied frequencies, and means in the receiver circuit and responsive to the applied frequencies to stop the movement of the time indicating element therein when the receiver circuit is in tune with the applied frequencies.

2. An electrical system which comprises means to transmit predetermined frequencies, a master clock mechanism in the transmitter, and tuning means in the transmitter and actuated by the master clock mechanism to tune the transmitter and transmit frequencies which vary in accordance with the time position of the master clock .mechanism, a receiver including a circuit to be tuned and a time indicating element associated therewith, means in the receiver circuit and responsive to the applied frequencies to move the time mechanism therein when the receiver circuit is out of tune with the applied frequencies, and means in the receiver circuit and responsive to the applied frequencies to stop the movement of the time indicating'element therein when the receiver circuit is in tune with the applied frequencies, and tuning means in the receiver circuit and actuated upon movement'of the time indicating element to bring the receiver circuit into tune Withthe applied frequencies.

3. An electrical system which includes a transmitting device, a master clock, and means operated by the clock to tune the transmitter in accordance with the time position thereof, and send out a series of progressively different frequencies, a receiving circuit to receive said frequencies, a time indicating element associated with said receiving circuit, means in the circuit and responsive to said frequencies to prevent the movement of the time indicating element when the receiving circuit is substantially in resonance with the applied frequencies, and means in the circuit and responsive to the applied frequencies to cause the movement of the time indicating element when the receiving circuit is not substantially in resonance with the applied frequencies.

4. An electrical system which includes a transmitting device, a master clock, and means operated by the clock to tune the transmitter in accordance with the time position thereof, and to send out a series of progressively different frequencies, a receiving circuit to receive said frequencies, a time indicating element associated with said receiving circuit, means in the circuit and responsive to said frequencies to prevent the movement of the time indicating element when the receiving circuit is substantially in resonance with the applied frequencies, and means in the circuit and responsive to the applied frequencies to cause the movement of the time indicating element when the receiving circuit is not substantially in resonance with the applied frequencies, and means in the receiving'circuit and operated by the movement of the time indicating element to bringthe receiving circuit into substantial resonance with the applied frequencies as the time indicating element is moved.

5. An electrical system which comprises a transmitter to transmit a series of progressively different frequencies, a variometer in the transmitter circuit to vary the frequencies transmitted, a master clock mechanism associated with the transmitter and connected to the variometer to vary the frequency in accordance with the time position of the clock, means operated by the clock to interrupt the transmission of frequencies at predetermined intervals of time, a receiving circuit adapted to receive said frequencies, a time indicating element associated with the receiver circuit, motor means in the receiver circuit and responsive to the frequencies and connected to the time indicating element to move it when the receiving circuit is out of tune with the applied frequencies, said motor means having a normal position, means to restore the motor means to normal position after each break in the frequencies transmitted, means in the receiver circuit and responsive to said frequencies to stop the movement of the motor means when the receiver circuit is in tune with the applied frequencies, and a variometer in the receiver circuit and actuated by the time indicating element to bring the receiver circuit into tune with the applied frequencies as the time indicating element is moved.

6. An electrical receiving device including a circuit adapted to be tuned to a series of applied frequencies, a time indicating element therein, means responsive to said frequencies to actuate said time indicating element when the circuit is out of tune with the applied frequencies, and means in the circuit and responsive to said applied frequencies to stop the movement of the time indicating element when the circuit is in tune with the applied frequencies.

'7. An electrical receiving device including a circuit adapted to be tuned to a series of applied frequencies, a time indicating element therein,

means responsive to said frequencies to actuate said time indicating element when the circuit is out of tune with the applied frequencies, and means in the circuit and responsive to said applied frequencies to stop the movement of the time indicating element whenlthe circuit is in tune with the applied frequencies, and a tuning means in the receiver circuit and actuated by and upon movement of the time indicating element to bring the receiver circuit into tune with the applied frequencies.

'8. An electrical receiving device including a circuit adapted to be tuned to a series of applied frequencies, a time indicating element therein, means responsive to said frequencies to actuate said time indicating element when the circuit is substantially out of resonance with the applied frequencies, and means responsive to said applied frequencies and in said receiving circuit to prevent the movement of the time indicating element when the receiving circuit is substantially in resonance with the applied frequencies.

9. An'electrical receiving device including a circuit adapted to be tuned to a series of applied frequencies, atime indicating element associated with said circuit, means in the circuit and responsive to said frequencies to prevent the movement of the time indicating element when the receiving circuit is substantially in resonance with the applied frequencies, and means in the circuit and responsive to the applied frequencies to cause the movement of the time indicating element when the receiving circuit is not substantially in resonance with the applied frequencies, and means in the receiving circuit and operated by the movement of the time indicating element to bring the receiving circuit into substantial resonance with the applied frequencies as the time indicating element is moved.

10. An electrical receiving device including a circuit adapted to be tuned to a series of interrupted applied frequencies, a time indicating element associated with the receiving circuit, motor means in the receiver circuit and responsive to the frequencies and connected to the time indicating element to move it when the receiving circuit is out of tune with the applied frequencies, said motor means having a normal position, means to restore the motor means to normal position after each break in the frequencies received, means in the receiver circuit and responsive to said frequencies to stop the movement of the motor means when the receiver circuit is in tune with the applied frequencies, and a variometer in the receiver circuit and actuated by the time indicating element to bring the receiver circuit into tune with the applied frequencies as the time indicating element is moved.

11. An electrical receiving device including a circuit adapted to be tuned to a series of frequencies, a time indicating element associated with the receiving circuit, motor means in the receiver circuit, said motor means including an operating coil and a restraining coil, the operating coil connected to and tending to move the time indicating element in response to frequencies applied to said operating coil, said restraining coil in circuit and responsive to said frequencies to restrain the movement of the operating coil only when the circuit is in tune with the applied frequencies.

12. An electrical receiving device, including a circuit adapted to be tuned to a series of frequencies, a time indicating element associated with the receiving circuit, motor means in the receiver circuit, said motor means including an operating coil and a restraining coil, the operating coil connected to and tending to move the time indicating element in response to frequencies applied to said operating coil, said restraining coil in circuit and responsive to said frequencies to restrain the movement of the operating coil only when the circuit is in tune with the applied frequencies, and tuning means in the circuit and operated by and upon the movement of the time indicating element to bring the circuit into tune with the applied frequencies.

THOMAS W. VARLEY. 

